What do we do for the kids?

The Illam children receive education and whole child development in a caring environment. They stay in our home and study in nearby government or its aided schools.

Why do we do this work?

India is a growing economy. Yet most children get fewer than six years of schooling and one in nine is illiterate. Poor diets mean that 38% of children under the age of five are so underfed as to damage their physical and mental capacity irreversibly, according to the Global Nutrition Report.” – Economist magazine Jan 13-19 2018

How did this begin?

Wellington writer, the late Jean Watson, founded the Illam (‘Home’ in Tamil) in 1987 to help poor children in Nilakottai, Tamilnadu, India. The DHAN KARUNAI ILLAM is now a model institution caringly built over 30 years with the support of mostly New Zealanders. The Illam is managed by DHAN a highly regarded Indian development organisation.

Welcome to Karunai Illam Trust

The Karunai Illam Trust is a New Zealand incorporated charitable trust. It was set up to support the work of the late Jean Watson, a Wellington writer, who in 1987 established a children’s home in the rural town of Nilakottai, in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The home called Karunai Illam is simply known as the Illam.

Our Illam provides a home away from home for about 50 young girls and boys. Many of the children come from single parent families who are unable to financially support their children. They reside at the Illam during the term time and are fully supported with their schooling, residential and extra curricular activity costs met by the Trust.

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Make a donation to Karunai Illam Trust

You can help us provide access to education for children in need as well as support local initiatives and community development. We can process online donations by credit card and also single or regular donations through online banking.

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